The art of travelling between Bangalore - Mangalore/Udupi

This is a discussion on The art of travelling between Bangalore - Mangalore/Udupi within Route / Travel Queries, part of the Travelogues category; Hi All!
One of my friend wants to travel to Udupi from Bangalore sometime next week. He wished to know ...

Hi All,
I'm planning to drive to Udupi this weekend and planning for the following route, BLR-Kunigal-Hassan-Belur-Chikmagalur-Ballehennur-(Hornadu -Kalsa)|Sringeri-Kudremukh-Karkala-Udupi. Last year when I travelled till Kudremukh this route was in great shape. Can someone update me on the current situation?
Google maps shows another alternate route via Mudigere-Kottigehera-Kalsa, in such case I can avoid Chikmagalur-Ballehennur-Sringeri altogether and it'll be slightly shorter. How is this stretch? I was told by a cab driver that the Mudigere-Kudremukh road is not that good but I want to know from someone who have travelled on this route recently.
Also please let me know about the places nearby Udupi where I can make a visit. My preference is scenic places than historical places/temples.
Regards,

Aah, why I didn;t thought about Agumbe , thanks for posting this route. How is the route? Sringeri-Agumbe-Hbri section? Good roads? I can use this as the alternate route while returning/going.
Samurai San, where are thou, need your inputs also.

Google maps shows another alternate route via Mudigere-Kottigehera-Kalsa, in such case I can avoid Chikmagalur-Ballehennur-Sringeri altogether and it'll be slightly shorter. How is this stretch? I was told by a cab driver that the Mudigere-Kudremukh road is not that good but I want to know from someone who have travelled on this route recently.
Also please let me know about the places nearby Udupi where I can make a visit. My preference is scenic places than historical places/temples.
Regards,

I had been to Kalasa/Kudremukh this weekend and I had taken the Blr-Hassan-Belur-Gendehally-Mudigere-Kottigehara-Kalasa-Kudremukh route.

Hassan-Belur: Excellent

Belur-Gendehally-Mudigere: Good single lane road

Belur-Cheeknally-Gonibeedu-Mudigere: Pathetic. Avoid at all costs

Mudigere-Kottigehara: Good road

Kottigehara-Baalur-Javali-Hirebyle-Kalasa: The road from Kottigehara to Baalur is good. Baalur-Javali-Hirebyle is very good as it is a newly laid road. Hirebyle-Kalasa is very rough. There are no potholes, but the road surface is chipping off.

Kalasa-Kudremukh: Good road

I'd suggest you take the Mudigere-Kudremukh road, but it might take longer since they are ghat roads. But this is a very scenic route.

If you reach Kudremukh early, do visit Hanumangundi falls (inside the national park). It is a lovely spot.

This route is best, avoid Kalasa route, it is too slow and tiring. Coorg route is also long, even though it is one of the prettiest, it is starting to get bad, I drove by last week. There is a price for everything.

Wow, TBHP rocks!! Thanks for all the options. I'm still trying to figure out all the data.
@addyhemmige,Samurai,
Sringeri-Agumbe route I'll definitely take as I long wanted to drive through that area and now is the chance. And I can take the Kudremukh route while coming back as then I'll have some time to visit the places there also.

@RoamingRao, which place is SKBorder? I'm not able to find that place in the map?
I've been to Kalasa/Hornadu last year, loved those places(infact I love those parts of Karnataka most as it reminds of my home ) and would love to take that route again.